When is the application deadline?
Applications are accepted beginning September 1.  The priority application deadline for fall and May admission is April 1; the priority application deadline for January admission is December 1.

Since Cardozo has three different start dates, can I apply to more than one term at a time?
No.  Students may only submit one application per academic year for either January, May, or the fall.

Do you prefer if I mail in my application or submit it electronically?
While the Admissions Committee continues to accept paper applications, it strongly prefers that applicants submit their completed applications through the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) online application service, if possible.

Do you prefer if I send letters of recommendation directly or through the LSDAS service?  If I use the LSDAS service, do I need to use the letter of recommendation forms that are part of Cardozo's application?
We strongly encourage you to submit your letters through the LSAC Letter of Recommendation Service, included as part of your LSDAS registration.  Your letters will be copied and sent to us with your LSDAS report.  To use this service, follow the directions for submitting letters outlined on www.LSAC.org.  If a recommender wishes to write specifically about your qualifications for Cardozo, he/she should send the letter, attached to Cardozo's letter of recommendation form, directly to Cardozo's Office of Admissions.

When do I need to submit the Dean's Certification Form?
During the application process, you only need to provide a Dean's Certification Form if you answer "yes" to questions 17b ("Have you been placed on academic probation or been required to withdraw from any school for academic reasons?") or 17c ("Have you ever been subject to disciplinary action for academic or other reasons at any of the colleges or graduate schools you have attended?") on the application.  If you are admitted to Cardozo and decide to matriculate, then you will be required to provide a Dean's Certification Form for any college or university you have attended as a full-time student for at least one year.

What are your LSAT and GPA ranges?
Here are the statistics on Cardozo's 2009 entering classes:

Full-Time Students GPA 25th Percentile Median 75th Percentile LSAT 25th Percentile Median 75th Percentile	3.39 3.60 3.75 161 164 166
Part-Time Students GPA 25th Percentile Median 75th Percentile LSAT 25th Percentile Median 75th Percentile	3.27 3.56 3.70 158 160 161

If I take the LSAT more than once, do you consider the highest or the average score?
It is within the discretion of the Admissions Committee to place heavier emphasis on the higher LSAT score, but all scores will be taken into consideration.  If there is a particular reason why you think you performed much better on one of the exams, you should include an explanation with your application.

When is the last acceptable date to take the LSAT?
The latest LSAT accepted for the fall and May terms is the February administration; the latest LSAT score accepted for the January term is the December administration.

When may I visit the law school?
Cardozo encourages prospective students to visit the Law School during the academic year. A visit includes observation of a first-year class, a tour of the school, and an informational session with an admissions counselor. To schedule a visit, please call the Admissions Office at 212-790-0357. Visits are scheduled Monday through Friday.

I received my degree outside the US.  Are there different application procedures?
Applicants with degrees conferred by institutions outside the US, Puerto Rico, or Canada are required to take the Law School Admission Test and must consult with LSAC regarding registration for the Law School Data Assembly Service (LSDAS). All foreign transcripts must be submitted through the LSAC JD Credential Assembly Service. If you completed any postsecondary work outside the US (including its territories) or Canada, you must use this service for the evaluation of your foreign transcripts. The one exception to this requirement is if you completed the foreign work through a study abroad, consortium, or exchange program sponsored by a US or Canadian institution, and the work is clearly indicated as such on the home campus transcript. This service is included in the LSDAS subscription fee. A Foreign Credential Evaluation will be completed by the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO), which will be incorporated into your LSDAS report. Questions about the JD Credential Assembly Service should be directed to LSAC at 215-968-1001 or lsacinfo@lsac.org. 

The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is not required.

Does Cardozo offer a part-time evening program?
No, Cardozo does not offer an evening program.  Our part-time program is a day program and begins in May. It is part time the first year and full time the last two years.

How much is the application fee?
The application fee is $70, payable to Cardozo School of Law.

How do I request a fee waiver?
Applicants must submit a written request with the application to obtain a waiver of the $70 application fee for financial hardship. The request should be accompanied by one of the following: (a) a copy of your most recent income tax return, (b) a copy of an approved fee waiver from the Law School Admission Council, or (c) a letter from your undergraduate financial aid office describing the financial aid you are receiving or received while you attended.

How do I apply for financial aid?
Students should not wait until they have been admitted to file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Financial aid files for entering students are reviewed when a student has been admitted to the Law School. Students are encouraged to file the FAFSA by April 1 for the May and fall terms; and December 1 for the January term. Application files received after these dates will be reviewed in the order in which they are completed.

What is Cardozo's Title IV Code for the FAFSA?
Cardozo's code is 002903.

Are decisions made on a rolling basis?
In recent years, Cardozo has received more than 5,000 applications from an impressive pool of J.D. applicants.  The Admissions Committee generally reviews applications in the order in which they become complete.  However, decisions are not necessarily made in the order in which applications are forwarded for review.  

During the review process, the Committee not only evaluates the merits of each application individually, but also relative to all other applications in the pool.  Some applications may receive a decision fairly quickly; in many cases, however, the Committee’s comparative appraisal of a file is a lengthier process, to allow the Committee to re-review an application and carefully assess a candidate’s strength in comparison to the full applicant pool.

As long as a candidate’s file is completed in a timely manner, her/his application will be thoroughly reviewed and given full and complete consideration.  Due to the careful assessment of each individual application, the Admissions Committee is unable to guarantee a decision will be made on an application within a particular time frame.   

What are the chances that I will be admitted from the wait list?  Are applicants on the wait list ranked?  When are applicants admitted from the wait list?
It is impossible to predict an applicant’s chances for admission from the wait list, which is kept for the classes entering in May and the fall. Applicants on the wait list are not ranked. The Admissions Committee will review the wait list until the start of classes for the May entering class, and from June through August for the fall entering class. Applicants may be admitted from the wait list at any time up until the start of classes.

May I defer my admission?
Students may request to defer their admissions for up to two years. A request for deferral should be made in writing to the Dean of Admissions, specifying the student’s plans during the time requested.  Deferrals are granted on a case-by-case basis.

How do I re-apply?
Applicant files are maintained for one year.  If you are reapplying within one year of submitting your initial application, you may complete and submit a new application form and fee, and the documents in your previous file will be considered along with any updated documents you submit.  If you are applying more than one year after your initial application, then you must submit a new application form and all new application documents.